On March 28, 2018, at the European Commission headquarters in Brussels, the contract for the implementation of the European Defense Agency (EDA) OCEAN 2020 Programme was signed. The purpose of the project is to develop the capacity of unmanned air, surface and underwater platforms to conduct the reconnaissance and surveillance of the European Union territorial waters. Among the members of the consortium consisting of European institutions and companies, Poland is represented by OBR CTM S.A. (CTM), being a part of Polska Grupa Zbrojeniowa (PGZ).

The OCEAN 2020 Project is the most important European military research project, that received the funding from EU grants, amounting to around 35 million euros. To implement the project, a consortium of 42 partners from 15 countries was established. The leader is Italian company Leonardo. CTM will bring to the project its experience in the construction and integration of marine observation systems, both land and ship, which were developed for the Polish Navy. The effects of the work will ultimately translate into more effective control of maritime areas around the European Union.

– The participation of CTM in such a significant undertaking is an important event for us. It will not only allow us to bring our experience into the project, but will also allow to deepen relations between European industrial entities – said Andrzej Kilian Ph.D., the President of the Board of OBR CTM S.A.

– We are convinced, that our common work within the consortium, will allow us to develop a cohesive, innovative European solutions in the area of development of an integrated system of reporting on the situation in the maritime areas of the European Union – added Joanna Sztiller, Vice President of the Board of OBR CTM S.A.

The project assumes two sea tests, which scenarios will be developed by the participants of the OCEAN 2020 Programme. The first one will be implemented in the Mediterranean Sea (2019), in with Leonardo company as a leader, basing on the Marina Militare dedicated units – Italian Navy. The second one will be held in the Baltic Sea (2020), in cooperation with Svenska Marinen – The Swedish Royal Navy and selected entities of the defense industry. The data collected during these tests, after processing will be sent to the prototype European command and control center in Brussels.